Big Three Auto Executives 2022: General Motors Co.

Mary T. Barra
Chairman and CEO

Barra became the first female chief executive to lead a major automaker when she was named CEO in January 2014. She was elected chairman of the GM Board of Directors in January 2016. Under Barra’s leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity – time. She’s focused on improving the customer experience and strengthening GM’s core vehicle and services business, while also working to lead the transformation of mobility.

Mark Ruess
President

Reuss leads GM’s vision of a sustainable, equitable, and all-electric future within the organization and beyond through its innovative technologies, products, and initiatives. He also directs the company’s regional operations, including North America, South America, China, and General Motors International, and oversees GM Defense. Reuss serves on the board of GM China’s joint venture, SAIC General Motors Ltd., and is a member of the GM senior leadership team.  He became GM president in January 2019.

Julian Blissett
Executive Vice President, President, GM China

Based in Shanghai, Blissett oversees GM’s business in China. Prior to this appointment, as GM senior vice president, International Operations – leading GM’s global operations outside of the Americas and China – Blissett streamlined operations and refined the global go-to-market strategies for GM’s International Operations, strengthening the foundation to turn around financial performance and sustain a customer-focused organization. Blissett also served as executive vice president of SAIC-GM, GM’s flagship joint venture in China.

Stephen K. Carlisle
Senior Vice President and President, North America

Carlisle leads GM sales, service, and marketing across its full portfolio of automotive and connected services brands in North America, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, OnStar, ACDelco, and GM Genuine Parts. Prior to this role, he served as senior vice president and president, Cadillac. Carlisle began his GM career in 1982 as an industrial engineering co-op student at the Oshawa truck assembly plant. He has served as VP of global product planning, VP of U.S. sales, and president and managing director of Southeast Asia.

Craig Glidden
Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy; General Counsel, Corporate Secretary

Glidden was appointed to the global public policy role on June 1, 2021. He’s responsible for appointing a new senior executive in charge of global public policy. He assumed the duties of corporate secretary in October 2021. Glidden joined GM in 2015 as general counsel and continues to lead a team of attorneys who serve GM’s regional and functional operations in more than 30 countries. Previously, Glidden was executive vice president and legal officer for LyondellBasell.

Paul Jacobson
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Before joining GM in December 2020, Jacobson served as CFO of Delta Air Lines Inc., which he helped transform into one of Fortune magazine’s Top 50 Most Admired Companies for six consecutive years. He was named the airline industry’s best CFO eight times by Institutional Investor magazine’s poll of Wall Street analysts and investors. Jacobson graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in aviation management and later received an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Gerald Johnson
Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Sustainability

Johnson leads GM’s global manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, labor relations, and sustainability organizations and is a member of the GM senior leadership team. He’s responsible for approximately 94,800 employees representing more than 118 sites on four continents in 13 countries. In January 2020, Johnson was appointed to the GM Political Action Committee board and steering committee. He’s also a founding member of GM’s Inclusion Advisory Board.

Doug L. Parks
Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain

Prior to this appointment, Parks was the VP, autonomous and electric vehicle programs. In that role, he launched Super Cruise, the industry’s first hands-free driving technology for compatible highways, on the 2018 Cadillac CT6. He oversaw the engineering team behind the Cruise AV, a production-intent autonomous vehicle built from the ground up, without driver controls, that operated on its own. He led the electrification team responsible for developing GM’s all-new EV architecture. 

Shilpan Amin
Senior Vice President and President, GM International

Since April 2022, Amin has been responsible for GM operations outside of North America and China.  His objective is to deliver profitable growth in each of the markets in which GM competes. Amin succeeds Steve Kiefer, who retired. Previously, Amin was vice president, GM global purchasing and supply chain, and was responsible for the strategic direction of GM’s worldwide purchasing, supply chain, and logistics operations. He’s the lead executive chair of the board of directors for the GM Asian Connections Business Resource Group.

Daniel E. Berce
Senior Vice President, President and CEO, GM Financial

Berce has held these positions at GM Financial since October 2010, when GM purchased the company. Previously, he served as vice chairman, president, treasurer, CEO, and CFO of AmeriCredit Corp. Before that, Berce was an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand for 14 years and was a partner with the firm. He is a certified public accountant and is a graduate of Regis University in Denver. GM Financial’s origination mix consists of 75 percent prime credit customers with credit bureau scores of 680 and above in North America.

Kimberly (Kim) J. Brycz
Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer

Brycz leads GM’s people team, which collectively strengthens employee engagement and develops and recruits talent to advance GM’s all-electric future. This role has afforded her the opportunity to focus her team on diversity and inclusion efforts, and to serve as a representative on GM’s Inclusion Advisory Board. As a member of GM’s senior leadership team, Brycz was instrumental in the implementation of the company’s COVID-19 protocols and the introduction of a new cultural philosophy: Work Appropriately.

Craig Bucholz
Senior Vice President, Global Communications

Buchholz is senior adviser to CEO Mary Barra and is responsible for GM’s overall global communications strategy as it executes its transformation to become a leader in mobility across electric vehicles, autonomous technology, and connected services. He’s a member of the GM senior leadership team. Before joining GM, Buchholz served as the chief communications officer for Procter & Gamble, where he led teams across six business units and five regions responsible for driving core messaging to frame the company’s narrative with consumers.

Alan M. Wexler
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation

Wexler leads GM’s Data and Customer Insights, Innovation, and Strategy teams. He has been working at the intersection of strategy, technology, and creative for more than 30 years. Before joining GM, Wexler served as chairman and CEO of Publicis Sapient, which helps clients innovate and compete more effectively in the digital age. He has also advised early-stage companies on how to compete with disruptive businesses models in a consumer-empowered era. Wexler holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Rider University.

Duncan Aldred
Vice President, Global Buick–GMC

Aldred provides senior leadership and strategic direction for Buick and GMC sales, service, and marketing. His goal is to increase positive opinion for both premium brands and to transform those opinions into profitable sales growth. In 2013, prior to joining Buick and GMC, Aldred was named acting vice president of sales, marketing, and aftersales for Opel and Vauxhall, based in Germany. In 2010, he was chairman and managing director at Vauxhall. He joined GM in 1990 at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant near Liverpool, and worked in various positions there.

Salvatore (Sam) Basile
Vice President, Global Product Programs

Basile was appointed to this role in April 2022. From 2019 to 2022, he was executive vice president of the SAIC-General Motors joint venture, based in Shanghai, China, where he was a member of the SAIC-GM Executive Committee. Basile also served as GM vice president of global portfolio planning from 2016 to 2019. He began his General Motors career in 1994 in the U.S. in product engineering. In 2000, he became manager of business planning at GM North America, then advanced vehicle planning in 2001.

Scott Bell
Vice President, Global Chevrolet

Appointed in April 2022, Bell most recently served as president and managing director of GM Canada. Under his leadership, GM Canada achieved profitable sales growth and built strong relationships with the Canadian dealer network. Bell also led GM Canada through the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic’s early days, including the production of 10 million face masks for the government of Canada. He also led the conversion of CAMI Assembly to produce BrightDrop’s electric delivery vans.

Jim Campbell
Vice President, Product Marketing, Accessories, Performance, and Motorsports

Campbell leads Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Hummer EV motorsports marketing strategy, in addition to directing the development and marketing of specialty vehicles and performance variants of production-based models. He also leads the product marketing strategy for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac portfolios, and planning and marketing of accessories and performance parts for production vehicles. Previously, Campbell served as U.S. VP, Chevrolet marketing.

Margaret Curry
Vice President, Tax and Customs, Chief Tax Officer

Curry joined GM in this position in 2017. She’s responsible for strategy and operations related to GM’s worldwide tax and customs functions. She has more than 30 years of tax experience. Prior to joining GM, Curry served as vice president of tax for Deere & Co. and Kimberly-Clark Corp. Before that, she was director of tax for Dell Inc., senior tax counsel for GM, and senior tax counsel for the Internal Revenue Service. Curry received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Michigan State University. 

Jim Danahy
Vice President, Global Safety Systems and Integration

Danahy, who took on this position in June 2021, oversees the implementation of safety, compliance, systems engineering, supplier quality, and performance across global vehicles. His group ensures safety, while exceeding customer requirements and government regulations to deliver the best vehicles for a great customer experience. Before this, Danahy was VP, global hardware components and subsystems, where he led engineering operations, components development, and advanced vehicle work.

Tony Francavilla
Vice President, Global Quality and Operational Excellence

Francavilla is responsible for leading GM’s global quality efforts, which are aimed at providing the highest-quality vehicles possible. In late 2017, his responsibilities expanded to include leadership over GM’s Operational Excellence. He brings to the role in-depth knowledge and global experience in manufacturing, engineering, and supplier quality. Prior to his current position, Francavilla served in a variety of senior roles within the quality organization, including executive director of global supplier quality.

Michelle Gardner
Vice President, Global Hardware Components and Subsystems

Gardner was appointed to this position in June 2021. Her role and organization comprise engineering operations, components development, advanced vehicle development, and other engineering business initiatives. She leads a global team of engineering professionals in realizing GM’s vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion through the design and development of advanced ICE, EV and AV systems, and vehicles. Prior to this, Gardner served as executive director of interior and thermal cabin comfort.

Rocky Gupta
Vice President, Finance and Treasurer

Gupta is responsible for leading the company’s global treasury operations including capital planning, capital markets, operations, and worldwide banking activities. Before becoming treasurer, Gupta was the chief investment officer and chief executive officer of General Motors Asset Management Corp., GM’s investment management subsidiary. In that role, he handled approximately $70B of assets under management. Gupta joined GM as an engineering co-op in 1987, and transitioned to the Treasurer’s Office in 1998.

Rory Harvey
Vice President, Global Cadillac

Harvey runs Cadillac’s day-to-day operations. Key focus areas include leading the brand’s transition to EVs, and reaching Cadillac’s aggressive growth targets with one of the freshest lineups in luxury. Harvey joined Cadillac in March 2018 as VP of Cadillac North America, managing sales, service, and marketing. Prior to that, he was chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors in the U.K. During his more than 30 years with GM, Harvey has held a variety of positions in Europe and the Middle East.

Christopher T. Hatto
Vice President, Global Business Solutions and Chief Accounting Officer

Hatto manages a global team charged with optimizing GM business processes to improve service quality and customer experience, and reduce complexity and costs. He continues to serve as chief accounting officer, and is responsible for global leadership and oversight for external reporting, technical accounting matters, the development of new accounting policies, and internal controls. He’s also responsible for reporting financial results to the company’s senior leadership and the board’s  Audit Committee.

Kent Helfrich
Vice President, Global Research and Development, Chief Technology Officer, and President of GM Ventures

Helfrich is responsible for innovation and technology solutions in the development of GM vehicles. He previously was GM’s executive director of global electrification and battery systems, responsible for GM electrified vehicle hardware development and the overall electric vehicle propulsion, calibration, and driving performance. Prior to rejoining GM in November 2016, Helfrich was vice president and CTO at Flex Automotive, splitting his time between Detroit and Silicon Valley.

Tim Herrick
Vice President, EV Launch Excellence

Appointed in January 2022, Herrick serves as the champion for limited start-of-production to start-of-regular-production EV launch window execution. His focus is on supporting cross-functional alignment to ensure launch success across the entire EV portfolio. Prior to this, Herrick served as vice president, global product programs, where he led  an international team in the design, engineering, development, and validation of the GM portfolio — including specialty, performance, and motorsports programs. He began his GM career in 1983.

Travis Hester
Vice President, Electric Vehicle Growth Operations

This position was created to capitalize on the rapid transformation of the EV business, with a specific objective to focus on customer EV solutions beyond the vehicle. Hester is responsible for EV infrastructure development, off-board energy management and grid integrations, dealer EV readiness and training initiatives, cross-brand EV vehicle charging strategies, and supporting the growth of nontraditional EV products Originally from Bendigo, Australia, Hester began his GM career in 1995 at Holden.

Stephen Hill
Vice President, Commercial Growth Strategies and Operations

Hill oversees current cross-brand activities that strengthen GM’s brands and the company’s position in the market. His group helps with the assessment and commercialization of future business opportunities that support GM’s revenue growth commitments. Hill previously served as vice president of Chevrolet and vice president of GM’s Customer Care and Aftersales division. He also served as vice president for the Cadillac, Hummer, and Saab brands. Hill began his GM career in 1983.

Phil Kienle
Vice President, North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations

Kienle is responsible for the safety, productivity, and quality performance of over 67,000 employees at more than 40 assembly, stamping, propulsion, and component operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He was the lead executive on-site in Kokomo, Ind., in 2020, supporting GM’s partnership with Ventec Life Systems to produce life-saving ventilators in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. He also played a strategic role in 2019 negotiations with the UAW. Previously he was VP of manufacturing, GM International.

Fred Killeen
Vice President, Global Information Technology and Chief Information Officer

Killeen is responsible for enabling IT assets and solutions across the enterprise in support of the company’s overall global business. He previously served as GM IT’s chief technology officer, and became chief information security officer in January 2018, overseeing the company’s global information security and IT risk management programs. He joined GM in March 2001 as director of systems integration for global product development.

Dave Kuhl
Vice President, Software Defined Vehicle and Operating Systems

One of Miller’s main responsibilities is developing and deploying Ultifi, GM’s new end-to-end vehicle software platform. Ultifi will help enable the frequent and seamless delivery of software-defined features, apps, and services to customers over the air. Miller has held many positions since joining GM in 1994, and most recently was executive director, vehicle motion embedded controls, where he was responsible for all propulsion, chassis, and thermal software.

Doneen McDowell
Vice President, GM North America Labor Relations

McDowell’s passion for employee engagement, her commitment to GM behaviors, and her constant drive to deliver business results positions her well to lead the labor relations team as it helps transform and prepare for GM’s all-electric future. Beginning in March 2020, McDowell led car and crossover vehicle assembly manufacturing in GM North America across nine sites. From 2018 to 2020, she was responsible for engine and component manufacturing in North America. 

Scott Miller
Vice President, Software Defined Vehicle and Operating Systems

One of Miller’s main responsibilities is developing and deploying Ultifi, GM’s new end-to-end vehicle software platform. Ultifi will help enable the frequent and seamless delivery of software-defined features, apps, and services to customers over the air. Miller has held many positions since joining GM in 1994, and most recently was executive director, vehicle motion embedded controls, where he was responsible for all propulsion, chassis, and thermal software.

Ken Morris
Vice President, Electric, Autonomous, and Fuel Cell Programs

Morris leads the global team of executive chief engineers and program managers who oversee GM’s electric, autonomous, and fuel cell vehicle programs, electric drive units, battery systems, and fuel cell systems from inception to launch and beyond. He’s also responsible for the initiatives associated with the commercialization of EVs and AVs. Previously, Morris was vice president of global product programs, leading the global team that oversees conventional GM vehicle, engine, and transmission programs.

Jeffrey (Jeff) Morrison
Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain

Morrison, appointed in April 2022, is responsible for the strategic direction of GM’s worldwide purchasing, supply chain, and logistics operations. His team collaborates with more than 19,000 global suppliers to deliver exceptional vehicle quality, innovation, and value to GM customers, along with a commitment to achieving long-term sustainability and accelerating diversity and inclusion in the supply base. Under Morrison’s direction, GM is building a strong, resilient, and scalable EV supply chain to support its goal of electrification.

Dan Nicholson
Vice President, Global Electrification Controls, Software and Electronics

Nicholson is responsible for all electrified propulsion products including batteries and electric drive units. He also oversees all electronic control systems and strategies, software, and associated electronic hardware for all GM products globally. Prior to this assignment, Nicholson was VP, global propulsion systems. In that role he was responsible for all propulsion products including engines, transmissions, fuel cells, electric drive units, and batteries.

Richard Phillips
Vice President, Global Manufacturing Engineering

Phillips succeeds Peter Thom, who retired. He leads a global team of more than 5,000 experts ranging from dies, body, paint, and assembly, to controls, propulsion, and global program management. This team plays a critical role in manufacturing operations and product launch. Phillips moved to the U.S. from Australia in 2018, where he was executive director, manufacturing engineering vehicle systems. Since starting at GM in 1987 as an apprentice, he has progressed through various assignments of increasing responsibility.

Marcos Purty
Vice President, Global Workplace Safety

Appointed to this role in June 2022, Purty returns to GM from Amazon, where he was vice president, North America fulfillment, Amazon robotics sortable operations. He succeeds Jim Glynn, who retired. Purty spent the first 25 years of his professional career with GM, beginning in 1994 at GM’s former Pontiac assembly plant. In his last assignment at GM as executive director, global manufacturing strategy and planning, he directed GM manufacturing’s footprint in cost and profitability and spearheaded new product allocation.

Kristen Siemen
Vice President, Sustainable Workplaces and Chief Sustainability Officer

Appointed to this position in February 2021, Sieman is helping to lead General Motors to a future with zero emissions as the company continues to take actions against climate change, including a commitment to becoming carbon neutral in its products and operations by 2040. In her most recent role as executive director, global energy strategy, certification, compliance, and test labs, Siemen led a cross-functional leadership team responsible for setting corporate energy policy.

Michael Simcoe
Vice President, GM Global Design

Simcoe has been GM’s global design chief since 2016. His teams focus on all aspects of design including advanced, production, and industrial design operations supporting GM’s brands and subsidiaries. Recent designs developed under Simcoe’s leadership include the Cruise Origin, Cadillac Lyric, GMC Hummer EV, and the BrightDrop EV600. Simcoe plays a pivotal role in GM’s transformation, challenging his teams to innovate as society experiences a massive shift in mobility, championing new technologies.

Kevin Tierney
Chief Cybersecurity Officer

Tierney’s global team is responsible for all aspects of cybersecurity across GM including executing enterprise, product, and manufacturing cybersecurity programs, with a focus on security architecture, penetration testing, cyber risk management, incident response, vulnerability management, intelligence, awareness and training, and governance. Prior to his current role, Tierney served as the chief product cybersecurity officer, and led the team responsible for developing and implementing cybersecurity strategies to reduce risks.

Omar Vargas
Vice President and Head of Global Public Policy

Vargas leads GM’s global engagement of government officials and public policy. Prior to joining GM, he held senior government relations roles with 3M, Praxair, and PepsiCo. In the early 2000s, Vargas was an appointee of President George W. Bush to the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served in a variety of capacities. His portfolio includes a broad range of law enforcement, civil rights, national security, and immigration policy matters, including violence against women and human trafficking victim services programs.

Steve Dumont
President, GM Defense, LLC

DuMont leverages GM’s advanced technologies, world-class manufacturing capabilities, and global supply chain for global defense and government customers. He joined GM Defense in 2021 after a 13-year stint at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a business of Raytheon Technologies, where he led and implemented a focused strategy for global growth. Earlier in his career, duMont supported flight test, systems engineering, and business development within Boeing and BAE Systems. Prior to entering the private sector, duMont served in the U.S. Army.

Francisco Garza
President and Managing Director, General Motors de Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean

Garza is responsible for General Motors de Mexico’s export and domestic market operations. Previously, he was vice president, vehicle sales, service, and marketing for GM de Mexico, with responsibility for developing and implementing go-to-market strategies for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac, and for managing and maintaining close relationships with dealers in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. He also served as managing director of Ally Credit Mexico.

Edward Kummer
Chief Digital Officer

In this role, Kummer is empowered to drive commercial success and strategic investments to establish digital market leadership. He leads a dedicated digital team structured around GM’s digital lines of business, each with a dedicated commercial leader who will be accountable for all aspects of the operations. This integrated approach will connect value chains and capitalize on adjacencies, enabling GM to move faster and grow its digital business while remaining focused on speed of service to the customer. Prior to GM, Kummer worked at the Walt Disney Co.

Telva McGruder
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

McGruder leads the development and execution of strategies that will ensure positive change toward a high-performing, inclusive culture at GM. Prior to this role, McGruder was director of workplace engineering and operations solutions in GM’s sustainable workplaces organization. She supported the global footprint for facility engineering, technologies, energy strategy, and multiple facility management strategies. Earlier in her career, McGruder held positions of increasing responsibility at several GM locations.

John Roth
Global Vice President, Customer Care, and Aftersales

Roth has been president and managing director of GM’s Africa and Middle East operations since June 2018. GM’s Customer Care and Aftersales business, based in Grand Blanc, Mich., supplies replacement parts for GM vehicle brands and non-GM vehicles under the ACDelco and GM Genuine Parts brands, and distributes them through an extensive network of dealers and independent aftermarket partners in more than 100 countries. Roth served as vice president of GM Canada marketing, sales, and service from 2013 to 2018. 

Deborah Wahl
Global Chief Marketing Officer

Wahl is pioneering investments in data, technology, and human capital to help inspire a movement and put everybody in an EV. Her focus is on bringing transformation and growth to GM as the possibilities of an all-electric future are brought to life for consumers. Wahl has been named five times to the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the CMO Club Hall of Fame and Automotive Hall of Fame Industry Influencer awards. She previously served as the global chief marketing officer of Cadillac.

Marissa West
President and Managing Director, GM Canada

Appointed in April 2022, West was most recently executive chief engineer for the global mid-size truck and medium-duty truck programs. Before that, she was the chief engineer for the next-generation full-size truck programs, where she was responsible for launching the 2020 GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Silverado HD. As vehicle chief engineer, she led the design, engineering, and development of future full-size truck and SUV programs. Earlier, she was the director of the global noise and vibration center.

General Motors Co. Board of Directors

GM’s board of directors can be viewed here.